Rome: Alitalia has canceled about 140 flights at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci in the last two days because of a wildcat strike that left holiday travelers stranded, news reports said.

The baggage handlers and maintenance staff walked off the job Monday to protest negotiations with CAI, the group of investors that plans to relaunch a smaller, more efficient Alitalia next month.

The strike stranded scores of passengers, with many sleeping on airport benches or standing in long lines yesterday morning waiting for flights out.

About 100 flights were canceled during the walkout Monday, and another 40 yesterday as officials tried to reschedule the flights from the day before, the ANSA news agency and other reports said.

Officials at the airport declined to provide numbers. Alitalia officials could not be reached for comments.

Union representatives and management were to meet last evening in Rome, ANSA said.

Last month, wildcat strikes forced Alitalia to scrap hundreds of flights.

As part of the launch of the new airline, Alitalia formally put 46 aircraft up for sale yesterday. Advertisements appearing in the Financial Times and other newspapers instructed would-be buyers to place bids by January 29.

Source : PTI